12 Wonderfully Bizarre French Expressions, Translated Literally

[BruniX]

Hello guys
i' have found this on the web, and it is real expressions often used here ...
funny...

https://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/fren ... -literally

have a good day !

BruniX

[ESquared]

Very interesting, Brunix, thanks for sharing.

When thinking about your idiomatic phrases, it seems like there are likely a number of English (American) sayings that would probably translate into French and seem equally bizarre to your countrymen.

Most of the ones that come to my mind, interestingly, have to do with animals:

Don't have a cow!

The horse is out of the barn...

That dog don't hunt...

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

I'm sure there are many more, but maybe others have their own truly American phrases (that vary quite a bit by region) that the French would scratch their heads over...

[BrokenolMarine]

The rabbit died
shooting fish in a barrel
changing horses in mid stream
grinnin' like a jackass eating briars (The mental picture for that one makes it even funnier.)

[ESquared]

Yean, see? They're all animal-related. At least so far.

Interesting, huh?

[ChefDuane]

There are many French culinary terms that translate literally very different than what they mean. For instance "monter beurre" literally translates into "Butter Mountain" but from a culinary standpoint means to whisk in butter piece at a time to finish a sauce and make it more silky and smooth.

In Culinary School "monter beurre" is taught as 'to the mountaintop with the butter' (which has its own connotations) but figuratively means that with the culmination of the sauce you whisk in butter to give it its most appeal, appearance, and taste. It is the apex of the dish.

[Mags]

skiff of snow

[ESquared]

skiff of snow

Okay, I'll bite. What's a "skiff of snow"?

[markiver54]

There are many French culinary terms that translate literally very different than what they mean. For instance "monter beurre" literally translates into "Butter Mountain" but from a culinary standpoint means to whisk in butter piece at a time to finish a sauce and make it more silky and smooth.

In Culinary School "monter beurre" is taught as 'to the mountaintop with the butter' (which has its own connotations) but figuratively means that with the culmination of the sauce you whisk in butter to give it its most appeal, appearance, and taste. It is the apex of the dish.

Chef, is it true: "A watch pot never boils"

[Mags]

.
Oh wow, I expected someone to bite, just not someone who had spent time in the PNW or other places where it can snow Besides being a small boat/dinghy, it can also be used to convey a slight event. The furniture has a skiff of dust on it or We got a skiff of snow today.

Okay, I'll bite. What's a "skiff of snow"?

skiff of snow

[ESquared]

The small boat association is one I'm familiar with, but never heard of a "skiff of snow" in all my years, most of which were spent in places where it can snow a little or a lot.
Learning something new here every day!

[BrokenolMarine]

Skiff of snow?
If I understand your meaning correctly, here in the US we would say, a dusting of snow. LOL

[ChefDuane]

There are many French culinary terms that translate literally very different than what they mean. For instance "monter beurre" literally translates into "Butter Mountain" but from a culinary standpoint means to whisk in butter piece at a time to finish a sauce and make it more silky and smooth.

In Culinary School "monter beurre" is taught as 'to the mountaintop with the butter' (which has its own connotations) but figuratively means that with the culmination of the sauce you whisk in butter to give it its most appeal, appearance, and taste. It is the apex of the dish.

Chef, is it true: "A watch pot never boils"

It is true that a watched pot will never boil. However, with my Chuck Norris super heat vision I have been known to make a pot boil in 3 seconds.

[Mags]

.
I am in the US. Though I've come to understand this phrase is more common in the upper mid-west, Pacific NW and Canada.

Skiff of snow?
If I understand your meaning correctly, here in the US we would say, a dusting of snow. LOL

[Mags]

.
Not the first time I've 'tested the waters' with the 'skiff of snow' phrase. Amusingly, interesting to see the responses that come of it. Give it a try sometime.

The small boat association is one I'm familiar with, but never heard of a "skiff of snow" in all my years, most of which were spent in places where it can snow a little or a lot.
Learning something new here every day!

[BrokenolMarine]

.
I am in the US. Though I've come to understand this phrase is more common in the upper mid-west, Pacific NW and Canada.

Skiff of snow?
If I understand your meaning correctly, here in the US we would say, a dusting of snow. LOL

You got me...

I thought our french friend had posted that one.
I guess I should have said, in most of the US....
Of course, we could turn this thread on it's ear if we started with regional oddities.
I had roommates from all over my first couple years outa bootcamp.
New England
Loosianner
Mountain Folk
Huh? Became part of my vocab...
Course they thought that VA boy talked funny too.

Wait duuude, I almost forgot them boys from Cali

[Mags]

.
waaaay duuude

.
I am in the US. Though I've come to understand this phrase is more common in the upper mid-west, Pacific NW and Canada.

Skiff of snow?
If I understand your meaning correctly, here in the US we would say, a dusting of snow. LOL

You got me...

I thought our french friend had posted that one.
I guess I should have said, in most of the US....
Of course, we could turn this thread on it's ear if we started with regional oddities.
I had roommates from all over my first couple years outa bootcamp.
New England
Loosianner
Mountain Folk
Huh? Became part of my vocab...
Course they thought that VA boy talked funny too.

Wait duuude, I almost forgot them boys from Cali

[BruniX]

i know one, in english i like :
every dog has his day ...

[ESquared]

.
I am in the US. Though I've come to understand this phrase is more common in the upper mid-west, Pacific NW and Canada.

Skiff of snow?
If I understand your meaning correctly, here in the US we would say, a dusting of snow. LOL

I'm with Jim. "Dusting" is what we say here in the "LOWER mid-west/plains" and other non-arctic circle areas of the US.

The only unique weather-related term I learned while living in the PNW was "Sunbreak," which the weather forecasters used to give us hope in that period from October through June that the sun might show itself, giving us all a "Sunbreak." Thought it was quite appropriate.

Reminds me of a conversation I overheard while waiting to board a plane at PDX. A local was talking to a visitor about the rainy weather, when she said, "Once you get through the first five or six years, you get used to it..."

Which turned out to be true.

[markiver54]

Reminds me of living in SoCal. The term "June Gloom" because of the cooler, foggy conditions.

[ESquared]

Reminds me of living in SoCal. The term "June Gloom" because of the cooler, foggy conditions.

Yep, I spent a few years in Orange County, and remember that. It was kind of a welcome change from "74 and sunny!"